She bent her head.     

       “And you will be prepared on that night to sing this song?”      

       “Yes, signore.”      

       “Save in the event of your being forbidden?”      

       “Unless you shall forbid me, I will sing it, signore.”      

       “Should they imprison you?—”      

       “If they shoot me I shall be satisfied to know that I have sung a song that cannot be forgotten.”      

       The Chief took her hand in a gentle grasp.     

       “Such as you will help to give our Italy freedom. You hold the sacred flame, and know you hold it in trust.”      

       “Friends,”—he turned to his companions,—“you have heard what will be the signal for Milan.”      

  

       CHAPTER IV     

       It was a surprise to all of them, save to Agostino Balderini, who passed his inspecting glance from face to face, marking the effect of the announcement. Corte gazed at her heavily, but not altogether disapprovingly. Giulio Bandinelli and Marco Sana, though evidently astonished, and to some extent incredulous, listened like the perfectly trusty lieutenants in an enterprise which they were. But Carlo Ammiani stood horror-stricken. The blood had left his handsome young olive-hued face, and his eyes were on the signorina, large with amazement, from which they deepened to piteousness of entreaty.     

       “Signorina!—you! Can it be true? Do you know?—do you mean it?”      

       “What, signor Carlo?”      

       “This; will you venture to do such a thing?”      

       “Oh, will I venture? What can you think of me? It is my own request.”      

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